Bathai, Fichani to join BNSC board

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 21, 2019 11:41

The two were chosen to represent National Sport Associations (NSAs) in the BNSC board.

The nominations have been submitted to the Elections Committee and they are now awaiting confirmation by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tshekedi Khama.

Fichani was proposed by BTA and supported by

Botswana Golf Union (BGU) while Bathai was proposed by BOKA and seconded by Botswana Athletics Association (BAA). Khama is expected to appoint Bathai and Fichani into the board before the July BNSC annual general meeting.

According to the BNSC Act, the NSA should choose their representatives. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Bathai said he was excited about the nomination.

“It is an honour for me. The BNSC board provides direction for Botswana sport and it is my hope that I would make a meaningful contribution looking at my experience both in sport and corporate world where I have held high positions,” he said. Bathai said he would be doing everything in the interest of sport associations. For his part, Fichani said he has been involved in sport for a long time and believes, now is the time for him to be engaged at board level.

“My intention is to apply myself on issues at hand. We have reached a point where sport should be less dependent on government funding,” he said.

Fichani said sport is still at development stage and with enough support it would reach a level where it can be professional. Meanwhile, the NSAs are up in arms over the review of the BNSC Act, which empowers the secretariat and not the associations. Bathai said the Act has its own challenges and merits, but talking to other NSAs presidents, one could conclude that BNSC secretariat has more powers.